Sausage-stuffing machine.



W. H. BAZLEY.

SAUSAGE STUFFING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 13110.?, 190e.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD.,WASHINGTUN. D. c.

W. H. BAZLEY.. SAUSAGL STUFFING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DBO. '1,1909.

1,002,487, Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

WM )s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BAZLEY, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE ELECTRICCOMPRESSING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SAUSAG-E-STUFFING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 7, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BAzLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing in Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sausage-StuiiingMachines, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

The present invention relates to a sausage stuffing machine, and isembodied in a novel pressure regulating device for the meat in thereceptacle, so that the speed of movement of the expressing plunger isregulated automatically in accordance with the quantity of meat iowingthrough the nozzle or nozzles, and the machine automatically stopped ifthe outlet for the meat is wholly cut off.

The machine in which the invention isV embodied is of that type in whichthe meat is contained in a receptacle provided with one or more suitablycontrolled stuffing nozzles to receive the sausage skins, the meat beingpressed out through the nozzles by a plunger arranged to reciprocatewithin the receptacle. The plunger is preferably operated by means of aworm and4 screw which gives it a slow and powerful movement, the plungerbeing provided with a threaded upright which is held from turning, therebeing a rotatable nut on said upright which is operated by a worm geardriven by a suitable motor.

lt is the purpose of the present invention to regulate the speed of themotor in such a way as to maintain a substantially uniform pressure uponthe meat, regardless of the quantity which is being discharged, and tothis end the motor is controlled through the agency of a plunger orpiston which is subjected to the pressure of the meat within thereceptacle. By this construction, in cases where two or more nozzles areemployed, they may be operated independently, since the closing of anozzle after filling the skin will not result in an excess of pressurethrough another nozzle which may be open, for the reason that thevelocity of the plunger is automatically reduced to compensate for thedifference in the outlet capacity.

The machine is herein shown as driven by an electric motor controlled bya rheostat, it being obvious, however, that other forms of motor mightbe used and equipped with suitable controlling devices operated by thesame or equivalent controlling mechanism.

In the ordinary operation of the machine, the motor controlling deviceis mechanically operated to stop the motor at each end of the plungerstroke, the starting of the motor in the ahead or reverse directionbeing under the control of the operator. The controlling device is soconnected with the pressure regulating member as to vary the plungerspeed in response to variations in pressure, and to stop the machinewhen the pressure reaches a certain predetermined limit, the resultbeing that if all the nozzles are closed, the machine will beautomatically stopped when the compression of the contents of thereceptacle has reached a certain limit. Under these conditions, it isnecessary to produce an abnormal movement of the manual controllingdevice for the purpose of starting the motor in a reverse direction torelease the pressure, the construction of the manual controlling devicewhich will be hereinafter described forming a feature of the invention.

Figure l is a rear elevation of a machine embodying the invention withparts broken away and shown in section; Fig. 2 is a detail showing infull and dotted lines the manual controlling device in the ahead andreverse positions; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a plane at rightangles to that of Fig. l; and Fig. t is a top plan view partly insection.

The machine embodying the invention is provided with the meat receptacleA which is of the usual type and cylindrical in shape, the saidreceptacle being shown as provided with two stutling nozzles A2 and A3,each of which is provided with a shut-ofi1 cock, as shown in Fig. 8. Themeat contained in the receptacle A is adapted to be forced out throughthe nozzles A2 and A3 by means of a reciprocating plunger B which isshown as provided with a threaded stem B2 projecting upward from thetop, and engaging screw threads in a rotating nut C which is providedwith a gear C2 meshing with a worm D2 driven by a motor D which isherein shown as an electro-motor.

The nut C is mounted in ball bearings C3, and the stem B2 is preventedfrom rotation by means of a projection E which enters a groove formed insaid stem. By this con- Vio struction, the rotation of the motor in onedirection will force the plunger down to express the meat, while therotation of the motor in the opposite direction will withdraw theplunger from the receptacle, so that the latter can be refilled. In theconstruction shown, the receptacle isv mounted on trunnions At, andprovided with a pivotally supported upright A having a projection A inthe path of the plunger, so that as the latter rises it will lift theupright A5 and tip the receptacle on the trunnions exposing the mouth ofthe receptacle, so that the latter can be readily filled.

There two or more nozzles are employed, it frequently happens that allof the nozzles are not openl at the same time, and if the movement ofthe plunger is uniform throughout, the closure of one nozzle will causean excess pressure at the others which results in a lack of uniformityin the stuifing operation, and, in fact, frequently causes the skins toburst.

lt is the purpose of the present invention to regulate the speed of theplunger to correspond to the outlet area, and also to bring the machineautomatically to a stop in case all the nozzles are closed while theplunger is in operation. For this purpose the motor controlling deviceis arranged to be acted upon by a movable abutment which is subjected tothe pressure ofA the meat in the receptacle, the said abutment beingherein shown (Fig. 3) as a piston a, operating in a -pocket a2 formed ina wall of the receptacle the said pocket being herein shown as locateddirectly below the plunger B. The piston t acts against a spring c3which moves it in the opposite direction when the pressure is relieved,so that the position of said piston is controlled entirely in accordancewith the amount of pressure within the receptacle. with a stem t4 whichis herein shown as projecting through a wall in the pocket (i2 and asbeing pro-vided with a collar t5 to determine the normal position of thepiston when there is no pressurethereon. This piston acts on a lever owhich is pivotally supported at b2 and connected directly7 with thecontroller c which is herein-shown as a. rheostat arranged to controlthe speed v.pinion will start the motor ahead, or in the reversedirection, according to the direction of such rotation. The pinion c2 isdirectly7 acted upon by the rack Z which is connected with one end of arocking lever e pivoted at c2, and having a slot e3 to engage The saidpiston is provided a lateral projection from a swinging link f. The saidlink f in turn is pivotally connected with a longitudinally movable rodg connected at 3 to the lever It will be seen from the foregoingdescription that a downward movement of the piston fr acting through thelever b will tend to push the rod g upward and rock the lever c towardthe dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, so that the rheostat switcharm o3 will travel toward the reverse position. The lever b, however, isalso acted upon by a weight of, shown as movable longitudinally on anarm b5 pivot-ed below said lever, and connected therewith by a hangerb". By sliding the weight along said arm to or from the fulcruin, thepressure at which the machine will stop may be regulated. The weight isshown as provided with a thumbscrew b? to hold it in any desiredposition.

It is obvious that when there is no pressure in the receptacle, therewill be no rcsistance to the downward movement of the lever and if theparts are in the neutral position shown in Fig. l, the lever c will berocked by the weight to the full line position shown in Fig. 2, thusmoving the rheostat arm c3 to the left, and starting the motor fullspeed ahead. Should the egress of meat be stopped, however, pressurewould be brought to bear upon the piston a, which, acting against theweight bt, would lift the said weight and correspondingly lift the leverc from the full line position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown inFig. 1, until the switch member c3 reached the olf position when t-hemotor would cease to operate, causing the machine to stop. If themachine is to-be started ahead again, it is only necessary to open anozzle, thus relieving the pressure and permitting the controller to actautomatically.

Since the motor slows down as the switch arm approaches the olfposition, it is desirable that the said arm should snap from the lastcontact to prevent arcing and burning out the contacts. In theconstruction shown, the rotary member which carries the switch arm c3 isprovided with a disk cL having a notch c5 cooperating with a springplunger 0". As the notch reaches the plunger in the rotary movement ofthe disk, the spring will act, and will cause a rapid movement of thearm out of contact with the last stationary contact of the rheostat.

Since this snap movement must beindepend- Y ent of the actuatingmovement of the lever c, the rack Z is arranged toha-ve a lost motionconnection with the said lever c. In the construction shown a link Z2 isinterposed between the rack d and the lever e, said link having a. pin(Z3 which engages in an elongated slot d* formed in the rack-member d.

wWith no pressure in the receptacle, it is obvious that if the link fwere shifted to the right hand end of the slot e3, the weight Zat wouldact to carry the lever c to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2,thus causing the motor to reverse. 1f, however, the conditions are thoseshown in Fig. l, in which the plunger B has stopped with meat underpressure in the receptacle, it is obvious that the weight is balanced bythe pressure, and, consequently, will exert no downward pull upon theright hand end of the lever e when the link f is shifted to the righthand end of the slot. 1n order, therefore, that the machine may bereversed under these conditions, the slot e3 is slightly inclined upwardtoward the right, so that the shitting of the link f to the right handend of the slotwill depress the right hand end of the lever to a slighteXtent,-suthcie1it at least to start the motor in the reverse direction,and the subsequent litt of the plunger B will at once release thepressure and allow the weight to act, throwing the motor to the fullspeed reverse.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when the machine isoperating to its full capacity, that is to say, with all the nozzlesopen, the lever e will be in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2,and the motor running full speed ahead, the rheostat arm c3 being in theeXtreme ahead 7 position with all the resistance cut out. 1li thepressure is increased by the closure of one of the nozzles, orotherwise, the increased pressure will produce a movement of the lever btending to lower the right hand end of the lever e, and move therheostat arm c3 toward the off position, thereby cutting in resistanceand checking the speed of the motor. 1f the egress of the meat is cutoiil altogether, pressure will be exerted to move the piston a until thelever e is carried to the neutral position shown in Fig. l, therebyshutting on' the motor and stopping the operation of the plunger. Tostart the motor ahead under these conditions it is only necessary toopen a nozzle, thus releasing the pressure. the contrary, if it isdesired to reverse the motor, the link f is thrown to the opposite endof the slot es, through the agency of the actuating handle f2 which isshown as an elbow lever pivoted on the lever e and connected with thelink f by means of the link f3. Owing to the upward inclination of theslot e3, herein described, this will produce a slight downward movementof the rack CZ, starting the motor in the reverse direction at slowspeed, it being obvious that, as soon as the pressure is relieved, theweight Zn* will act to throw the motor to full speed in the reversedirection.

1n the continuous operation ot the machine, assuming that no stop ismade under the conditions shown in Fig. l, the motor OnA is arranged tobe stopped when the plunger B reaches either end of its stroke throughthe agency of mechanically operating devices. To this end, the lever ehas connected therewith a crank arm it which is shown as radiallyconnected with the stud on which said lever is tast, and whichconstitutes the iulcrum ot said lever, the said arm 7L having connectedtherewith a rod 722 which is arranged to be acted upon by the plunger Bor parts movable therewith. In the construction shown, the said rod 71,2projects upward toward the top of the machine through a guide or bearing7a3, the upper end of the said rod being in the path of a projection B3connected with the threaded stem B2 by which the plunger' is actuated.As the plunger reaches the bottom of the receptacle, the adjustablememberB4, which is connected with the member B3, will come into contactwith the upper end of the rod h2, and :torce the said rod downward fromthe full line position shown in Fig. 2. Such downward movement of therod h2 will rock the stud to which the lever e is connected, turning thelever so as to carry the rheostat arm c3 from the ahead position to theott position, it being obvious that, as soon as the said off positionhas been reached, the motor will stop and the parts will be in theposition shown in Fig. 1, eX- cept that the plunger B will be at thebottom of the receptacle with no pressure being exerted upon the pistona. It, therefore, the handle f2 is then operated to throw the link f tothe opposite end of the slot e3, the weight b4 will act to throw theright hand end of the lever e down, thus starting the motor at fullspeed in the reverse direction. As the plunger reaches the top of itsstroke, it will come into contact with an adjustable stop h4 of the rodh2, and will litt the same, carrying the right hand end of the lever eupward and the rheostat switch member c3 to the lett until the latterreaches the oii:7 position and stops the motor. The same upward movementof the plunger acts upon the projection AG from the connecting memberA5, and tips the receptacle A out of the path of the plunger, so thatthe said receptacle is accessible for filling. To start the motor Dlahead, the handle f2 is restored to the position shown in Fig. l,whereupon the weight b4 will act to throw the lever e to the full lineposition shown in Fig. 2, thereby starting the motor full speed ahead.As soon as the plunger leaves the projection A, the receptacle A willmove back to its operative position through force of gravity, thetrunnion support for said receptacle being above the center of gravitythereof. The receptacle is then held from tipping by a gravity latch AT,pivoted to the frame at AS, and extending into the path of the plunger,as

shown in Fig. 3, so as to be raised when the plunger in its upwardmovement passes out of the receptacle.

Furthermore, where a number of nozzles are employed in connection withthe same machine, it is immaterial how many of the saidk nozzles areshut off at a time, since the pressure on the remaining nozzle ornozzles will be regulated accordingly, and the stuifing operation ineach case will be uniform.

Claims: f

1. In a sausage stuiiing machine, a Vmeatreceptacle; a reciprocatingplunger; a motor to operate said plunger; means for controlling` theegress of t-he meat from the receptacle; a controlling device for thesaid motor; and means for operating said controlling device actuated bythe pressure of the plunger on the meat in the receptacle.

2. The combination with a receptacle provided with a controllablenozzle; of an expressing plunger worling in said receptacle; a motor tooperate said plunger; a controller for said motor; and an actuatingdevice for said controller operated by the pressure exerted by saidplunger on the meat in the receptacle.

3. The combination with areceptacle for meat provided with a stuiiingnozzle; of a plunger working in said receptacle to express the meatthrough said nozzle; a motor to operate said plunger; a controllingdevice for said motor; a movable abutment subjected to a yieldingpressure at one side, and on the other side to the action of the meatinthe receptacle when under the pressure exerted by the plunger; and meansfor connecting said movable abutment with said controller.

4. In a sausage stuffing machine, the combination with a receptacle forthe meat provided with stuiiing nozzles; of a reciprocating plungerworking in said receptacle; a reversible motor to operate said plunger;means for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said motor;a rocking member connected with said controlling means to move the samein one direction or the other; a weight adapted to act upon said rockingmember; means for shifting the point of connection between said weightand said rocking member across the fulcrum of said rocking member; and adevice controlled by the pressure of the meat in the receptacle arrangedto act in opposition to said weight, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a receptacle provided with stuffing nozzles; ofa plunger movable in said receptacle to express the contents thereofthrough said nozzles; a motor for said plunge; a controller for saidmotor; a pivotally supported lever connected with said controller, saidlever having a slot or recess extending across the fulcrum of the leverand inclinedwith relation to said lever; alink engaging said slot andadapted to be shifted from one end to the other thereof; and av leverconnected with said link, said lever being acted on at one side of itsfulcrum by a constant force; and at the other side of said fulcrum bythe variable pressure in the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BAZLEY.

Witnesses:

JAS. J. MALONEY, M. E. CovENEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

